Authorities report that the missing commuter plane has been discovered crashed on Alaska's sea ice, with all 10 aboard confirmed dead.

This ohoto provided bv the U.S. Coast Guard on Fridav. Feb. 7. 2025. shows a small commuter olane that crashed in western Alaska on a flight that was bound for the hub communit

By  NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 11:23 PM EST, February 7, 2025

JUNEAU, Alaska (NB360) — A small commuter plane en route to Nome crashed in western Alaska and was found Friday on sea ice, with all 10 people aboard confirmed dead, authorities reported. The incident ranks among the most fatal in the state over the past 25 years.

Rescue teams were searching the plane's last known location by helicopter when they discovered the wreckage, according to Mike Salerno, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesperson. Two rescue swimmers were deployed to examine the site.

A photo released by the Coast Guard depicted the plane's shattered structure and debris scattered on the sea ice, with two individuals in bright emergency attire inspecting the wreckage.

Search for missing plane

Search teams are looking for a single-engine turboprop aircraft carrying 10 individuals that disappeared during its flight from Unalakleet to Nome on Thursday.

Source: AP reports; FlightAware

By NEWS BLEND 360

Updated 11:23 PM EST, February 7, 2025

“Accepting the reality of our loss is difficult,” stated U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski during an evening news briefing.

Nome Mayor John Handeland became emotional while discussing the fatalities and the response efforts.

“Nome is a resilient community, and during tough times, we unite to support one another. I anticipate continued support in the coming days as we all strive to recover from this tragic event,” Handeland said.

A prayer service was scheduled for later that evening.

The focus was already shifting to recovery operations due to rapidly changing conditions. Officials highlighted challenges such as adverse weather expected within the next 18 hours and unstable “young ice” that was slushy.

“They are on the ice as we speak,” said Jim West, chief of the Nome Volunteer Fire Department. “The conditions are dynamic, so we must proceed safely and quickly.”

The Bering Air single-engine turboprop plane was en route from Unalakleet on Thursday afternoon with nine passengers and a pilot, according to Alaska’s Department of Public Safety. The plane was operating at full passenger capacity, as per the airline’s description.

The Cessna Caravan departed Unalakleet at 2:37 p.m., and contact was lost less than an hour later, according to David Olson, Bering Air’s director of operations. The National Weather Service reported light snow and fog, with a temperature of 17 degrees (minus 8.3 Celsius).

The Coast Guard reported the aircraft went missing about 30 miles (48 kilometers) southeast of Nome.

Radar forensic data from the U.S. Civil Air Patrol indicated that around 3:18 p.m., the plane experienced a “rapid loss in elevation and speed,” according to Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin McIntyre-Coble. “I can’t speculate on what caused this event,” he said.

McIntyre-Coble mentioned he was unaware of any distress signals from the aircraft. Planes carry an emergency locating transmitter that sends a signal to a satellite if exposed to seawater, alerting the Coast Guard to potential distress. No such signals were received, he noted.

All 10 individuals on the plane were adults, and it was a regular commuter flight, said Lt. Ben Endres of the Alaska State Troopers.

Two crash victims were on a work trip for a non-profit tribal health organization, according to Alaska’s News Source. The names of the other individuals have not been disclosed.

Local, state, and federal agencies participated in the search, covering ice-dotted waters and miles of frozen tundra.

The National Transportation Safety Board was dispatching nine personnel to the scene from various states.

Flying is crucial in Alaska due to its vast landscape and limited infrastructure. Most communities lack connection to the developed road system serving the state’s populous region, making small plane travel common.

Some high school teams fly to compete against rival schools, and goods are often delivered by barge or air.

The plane crash represents the third major U.S. aviation accident in eight days. A commercial jetliner and an Army helicopter collided near the nation’s capital on Jan. 29, resulting in 67 fatalities. A medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia on Jan. 31, killing six on board and one on the ground.

Bering Air operates in 32 villages in western Alaska from hubs in Nome, Kotzebue, and Unalakleet, with most destinations receiving twice-daily scheduled flights Monday through Saturday.

Unalakleet, a community of about 690 people, is located about 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast of Nome and 395 miles (640 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. The village is on the Iditarod trail, the route of the world-renowned sled dog race, where mushers and their teams cross the frozen Norton Sound.

Nome, a Gold Rush town, lies just south of the Arctic Circle and is the endpoint of the 1,000-mile (1,610-kilometer) Iditarod. The city announced prayer vigils for Friday for those on the plane, their friends and family, and those involved in search efforts.

___

Golden reported from Seattle. Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed to this report.